Journal
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Volume 117, Issue 31, Pages 18206-18215Publisher
NATL ACAD SCIENCES
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2004408117
Keywords
organelle; lipids; artificial cell; membrane; sponge phase
Categories
Funding
- NSF [CHE-1844346]
- Department of Defense (Army Research Office) through the Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative [W911NF-13-1-0383]
- US Department of Energy (Biomolecular Materials Program, Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering) [DE-SC0018086]
- Swiss National Science Foundation fellowship [P300PA_174346]
- NIH
- Soft and Hybrid Nanotechnology Experimental Resource [NSF ECCS-1542205]
- Materials Research Science and Engineering Center program [NSF DMR-1720139]
- International Institute for Nanotechnology (IIN)
- State of Illinois, through the IIN
- MRI program [NSF DMR-1229693]
- U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) [DE-SC0018086] Funding Source: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
- Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF) [P300PA_174346] Funding Source: Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF)
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Living cells segregate molecules and reactions in various subcellular compartments known as organelles. Spatial organization is likely essential for expanding the biochemical functions of synthetic reaction systems, including artificial cells. Many studies have attempted to mimic organelle functions using lamellar membrane-bound vesicles. However, vesicles typically suffer from highly limited transport across the membranes and an inability to mimic the dense membrane networks typically found in organelles such as the endoplasmic reticulum. Here, we describe programmable synthetic organelles based on highly stable nonlamellar sponge phase droplets that spontaneously assemble from a single-chain galactolipid and nonionic detergents. Due to their nanoporous structure, lipid sponge droplets readily exchange materials with the surrounding environment. In addition, the sponge phase contains a dense network of lipid bilayers and nanometric aqueous channels, which allows different classes of molecules to partition based on their size, polarity, and specific binding motifs. The sequestration of biologically relevant macromolecules can be programmed by the addition of suitably functionalized amphiphiles to the droplets. We demonstrate that droplets can harbor functional soluble and transmembrane proteins, allowing for the colocalization and concentration of enzymes and substrates to enhance reaction rates. Droplets protect bound proteins from proteases, and these interactions can be engineered to be reversible and optically controlled. Our results show that lipid sponge droplets permit the facile integration of membrane-rich environments and self-assembling spatial organization with biochemical reaction systems.
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